Roasted Beets with Bacon, Garlic, and Chestnuts

Plum and Beet Soup with Spiced Yogurt Swirl

Think of this as “new and improved” borscht, with fruit and mint added for freshness and subtle spices for intrigue. If you like, roast extra beets to eat later in the week; they keep several days in the refrigerator.

Golden Beet and Beet Greens Soup

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream

These electric magenta cupcakes get their color not from the usual food coloring but from puréed roasted beets, which also add a subtle flavor. Don’t use canned or packaged steamed beets—the cupcakes’ color will be drab.